‘Bone spurs’ diagnosis that kept Trump out of war may have been ‘favour’ to his father

The New York Times was unable to find documentation related to the diagnosis, however

(AP)

Daughters of a New York foot doctor say they are not sure if their father ever actually examined Donald Trump before giving him a diagnosis that exempted him from joining the military during the Vietnam War.

They also say the diagnosis of bone spurs may have been a favour to the president’s father.

The claims are according to a report in The New York Times, in which daughters of the late podiatrist Larry Braunstein say that they know of the relationship with the Trumps as “family lore”. They say the diagnosis was a favour to their landlord Fred Trump, who owned the Queens office where their father practised medicine.

“I know it was a favour,” Elysa Braunstein told the newspaper. Her father died in 2007, and the Trump family sold the building in 2004.

“What he got was access to Fred Trump,” Ms Braunstein continued. “If there was anything wrong in the building, my dad would call and Trump would take care of it immediately. That was the small favour that he got.”

The New York Times was not able to find paper evidence to back up the claims, such as medical records. The daughters are Democrats, and admit that they are not fans of the president. Their father “grew tired” of Mr Trump when he became a celebrity, they said.

Mr Trump has been criticised frequently for his bone spurs diagnosis, which allowed him to avoid the bloody war in Vietnam even though his physical exam showed him to be healthy otherwise.

The future president, in addition to the 1-Y medical deferment from the bone spurs, also had four education deferments.

The president did not provide documentation for his diagnosis during the 2016 campaign, and said then that he did not remember the name of the doctor who gave him his diagnosis.

The White House has not responded to the allegations.